Death March in the Mountains... Saturday 12/12

6:00 AM

Start at RSM plaza- Harding Truck Trail - Modjeska and Santiago Peaks- Main Divide to Bluejay Campground- Climb to Cocktail Rock- Descend San Juan- Return to RSM through Caspers Park on the Bell Trail- Eat giant burritos at Los Primos.

Almost 70 miles and 10,000 feet.

The route will be largely the same as what mtnbikej did last weekend.

My plan is to start from RSM... The plaza at the corner of Santa Margarita Parkway and Plano Trabuco is a good place to park. The loop ends right by Los Primos. Nothing better than a plate of mexican food after a ride like this... Maybe two plates.

As mtnbikej mentioned last week, this isn't a beginner route... It's in the mountains, and it's remote, with the first water opportunity being Bluejay campground at mile 40ish. As far as endurance, this is pretty advanced.

The weather is supposed to reach the 60s later in the day, but it will probably be quite cool for the first few hours.

Any takers--- other than mtnbikej? I know he's in.

 

I'm in!!!




Oh, shoot, you said Saturday. That's laundry day. Dang it!

 

I gotta work back up to this...and I gotta have a bike. I still have no firm date for the return of my steed.

 

I had trouble following the route how the hell can I ride it! From Blue jay how do you climb to Cocktail rock? Isn't it descending like 80%? Just wondered,

 

I honestly think this is too big of a ride for me. 9 hours elapsed for the 50 mile (shorter) version of this. Mostly that long because I was the anchor.

I like riding with you two (I know, what's wrong with me), but this one might exceed my current capabilities.

 

Hear, Hear!!! Nothing wrong with you...just a simple reality check.

 

At that point in the ride, small bumps count as climbs.

 

If you didn't like Holy Jim....San Juan might not be high on your list either.

 

That's not an invite Faust - that's a suicide mission!!

 

Here is the route:


https://www.strava.com/activities/445035645

 

Oh, Come on! I've seen you post that you've done marathons. This is a walk in the park.

Well... Two parks, actually. And a national forest.

 

Wave to all the Push A Kona riders out there the same day. I will be at the bottom of San Juan Trail at 9am in the support truck.

Dean

 

Throw-down-gauntlet-as-invitation...I love it!

Looks like primo conditions...high of 45 on Santiago, with showers likely/possible Thu thru Fri, even some white stuff possible on the peak.

I have no idea if I can hang with you guys, but with the numerous bail options* before the point of no return, I have no good reason not to try. Lack of high mileage days be damned.

TFPU.


*Reverse Harding; Joplin/Caddy; Holy Jim; Trabuco Creek.

 

Ehhhhhh.....it wasn't so bad.

 

Do you think my E-Bike could hold enough of a charge for me to do this ride?

 

Just think how fun it would be to have to pedal up the Wall on a dead ebike weighing 45+ lbs.

 

Lucky for me, abuck55 already hit me up to ride the EC trails on Sat. Why don't you guys drop down over here since you'll be on the SA ridgeline anyways....

 

I'd probably pay money to see someone climb the rocky section under Modjeska on a dead e-bike...

 

I would bring the rocks...

 

Oh sure... I throw out a perfectly good invitation to ride some of the best trails around...

 

Looks like I could avoid San Juan by going straight through Blue Jay CG and down Ortega instead. I'm not averse to that.

Getting to Blue Jay is Harding and MD? A grind but nothing hairy if I'm reading the map right.

 

Correct, there is zero exposure on that route. All fire road or real road past Blue Jay (assuming you go down MD and skip UHJ like you did last time).

 

Where's the trailhead post for that?!

 

Google Maps says that it's 9.4 miles with 2400 feet of elevation loss from the intersection of Main Divide and the 74 to Hot Springs Canyon Road. That's probably a really hairy section on a bike, but I bet it goes by fast!

 

I'd be wearing my GMR grin.

 

In your casket.

I think maybe you guys are joking around, I hope, but I'd never send a friend down ortega on a bicycle, prob not even an enemy. I'm road averse, but having a semi truck buzz your elbow at 50mph on a no shoulder road with only a guardrail between a 100 foot drop seems way riskier than the little bit of exposure on SJT. Glad we have a diversity of riders on here!

 

I've ridden stretches closer to Caspers... From there to Antonio Parkway all has a paved shoulder. It isn't a bike lane, but it isn't bad.

I wouldn't ride anything past Caspers. I usually avoid that in the car.

 

The drop down the north side into Elsinore is a hoot. At least on a motorcycle...haven't ridden that on a bike yet.

 

I don't know if this is what you mean but there is dirt road and singletrack from Caspers to the bottom of San Juan Trail. And I an not talking about that crazy steep Aliso Fireroad but dirt right along side Ortega Highway.